Type 1.5 Cholesterol question

[Lally123]

Ok so I've just had my latest blood results. I was given a statin when I was diagnosed about 18 months ago but never took it. Today's results are hba1c 42, total cholesterol 5.6, hdl 2.2, non hdl 3.4, ratio 2.5. I don't have high blood.pressure, today it was normal 110/60 and am slim. My question is can hdl be too high? Bit worried because I've had a bit of a Google and seen some stuff around about high hdl being just as bad heartwise as low hdl, like a U shaped curve with 1.5 being the optimal. I was happy with those.results as I always thought that high hdl was protective. Should I take statins? If anyone has come across any reassuring research would be grateful for some pointers! Many thanks

 

[CherryAA]

Well there are a whole slew of people lecturing about statins and suggesting it a waste of time worrying about it.

maybe give this guy a read. you might decide to ignore him, but at least you will have some sense of the fact that the science is still not settled!
http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol/

 

[CherryAA]

Ok so I've just had my latest blood results. I was given a statin when I was diagnosed about 18 months ago but never took it. Today's results are hba1c 42, total cholesterol 5.6, hdl 2.2, non hdl 3.4, ratio 2.5. I don't have high blood.pressure, today it was normal 110/60 and am slim. My question is can hdl be too high? Bit worried because I've had a bit of a Google and seen some stuff around about high hdl being just as bad heartwise as low hdl, like a U shaped curve with 1.5 being the optimal. I was happy with those.results as I always thought that high hdl was protective. Should I take statins? If anyone has come across any reassuring research would be grateful for some pointers! Many thanks

also I missed the " being slim" part, - check out Dave feldman @cholesterolcode.com

 

[Mike d]

Should I take statins?

Until you've thoroughly read the board and arrived at your own decision, we can't directly comment

My personal opinion (and it's shared by many on here) is a flat "NO"

 

[britishpub]

As for the HDL. You can google just about anything, and find a whole raft of answers. My wife is tiny, and has high total cholesterol made up virtually entirely due to high HDL. I too have read some of the stuff saying that is bad, and just as much that says the opposite.

As for statins, the fact that you will find hardly anyone in support of taking them should tell you everything you need to know.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Ok so I've just had my latest blood results. I was given a statin when I was diagnosed about 18 months ago but never took it. Today's results are hba1c 42, total cholesterol 5.6, hdl 2.2, non hdl 3.4, ratio 2.5. I don't have high blood.pressure, today it was normal 110/60 and am slim. My question is can hdl be too high? Bit worried because I've had a bit of a Google and seen some stuff around about high hdl being just as bad heartwise as low hdl, like a U shaped curve with 1.5 being the optimal. I was happy with those.results as I always thought that high hdl was protective. Should I take statins? If anyone has come across any reassuring research would be grateful for some pointers! Many thanks

The standard range for HDL is 1.2 to 3.5. Your HDL is ideal and definitely not high.
Statins work on LDL and triglycerides. They do not affect the HDL.

Stop worrying!

 

[Lally123]

The standard range for HDL is 1.2 to 3.5. Your HDL is ideal and definitely not high.
Statins work on LDL and triglycerides. They do not affect the HDL.

Stop worrying!

I wasn't worried till I noticed my hdl came in the red zone on the result and started googling! It's so hard to know whether you're doing the right thing by your body when you read stuff that says my hdl being 2.2 could cause as many problems as being low! I think I am going to take your advice and stop worrying, there's no definitive evidence it causes problems and no apparent known mechanism as to why it does anyway. And it's not like I can change anything apart from taking statins which I'm really not wanting to do. Thanks!

 

[Lally123]

Thanks guys for your replies. I'm definitely not going to start statins. Thanks for the info @CherryAA the first one was really interesting, I don't do very low carb so the Feldman one was less applicable but still good to read.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I wasn't worried till I noticed my hdl came in the red zone on the result and started googling! It's so hard to know whether you're doing the right thing by your body when you read stuff that says my hdl being 2.2 could cause as many problems as being low! I think I am going to take your advice and stop worrying, there's no definitive evidence it causes problems and no apparent known mechanism as to why it does anyway. And it's not like I can change anything apart from taking statins which I'm really not wanting to do. Thanks!

What did it say the top of the range is? My lab reports and on line results say 1.2 to 3.5. Mine is always above 2. Currently it is 2.7.

 

[Lally123]

What did it say the top of the range is? My lab reports and on line results say 1.2 to 3.5. Mine is always above 2. Currently it is 2.7.

2.0 was the max which is what made me check. Different areas have different parameters though. And from what I saw when I looked at some of the research was that anything above 2.3 or 95 mg/dl is bad. I think I will just not worry too much, yours is much higher than mine and you clearly haven't keeled over yet lol

 

[Bluetit1802]

2.0 was the max which is what made me check. Different areas have different parameters though. And from what I saw when I looked at some of the research was that anything above 2.3 or 95 mg/dl is bad. I think I will just not worry too much, yours is much higher than mine and you clearly haven't keeled over yet lol

Weird they say up to 2. I am being cynical here, but could it be "they" worked out that the higher the HDL is the higher the total will be, and we are told to keep the total under 5 (under 4 for diabetics)

There are many members on this forum with HDL higher than 2 but, like me, have low triglycerides and ideal ratios.

 

[KK123]

Just to add, I have recently had an appointment with a lipid specialist, my total cholesterol is 6.6, with HDL of 2.2, trigs of 0.5 and the rest LDL (no other issues re family background etc). The Consultant was completely unconcerned with my HDL or trigs, he concentrated solely on the LDL and said frankly, 'you need to reduce it by half' and here are your statins! I tried to get him to accept that my ratio was fine, all other issues were fine, ie no smoking etc but he insisted on statins. The one thing he did say was that diet had very little, if anything to do with it, ie saturated fats and so on was not of particular concern. I asked him the specific question about what he thought of my HDL and he said 'perfect' so I hope that helps you a little.

 

[bulkbiker]

Just to add, I have recently had an appointment with a lipid specialist, my total cholesterol is 6.6, with HDL of 2.2, trigs of 0.5 and the rest LDL (no other issues re family background etc). The Consultant was completely unconcerned with my HDL or trigs, he concentrated solely on the LDL and said frankly, 'you need to reduce it by half' and here are your statins! I tried to get him to accept that my ratio was fine, all other issues were fine, ie no smoking etc but he insisted on statins. The one thing he did say was that diet had very little, if anything to do with it, ie saturated fats and so on was not of particular concern. I asked him the specific question about what he thought of my HDL and he said 'perfect' so I hope that helps you a little.

Thats very sad.. are you going to take them?

 

[KK123]

Thats very sad.. are you going to take them?

No I blo*dy well ain't, I have consigned the prescription he gave me to my diabetes folder! I will be honest, it does worry me despite all the things I read about my ratio's being good. I don't eat high fat other than a small amount of cheese, I will stop that for the next 3 months just to see if there's a difference. If I was at 9 or 10 maybe I would take them but not at 6.6!

 

[bulkbiker]

No I blo*dy well ain't, I have consigned the prescription he gave me to my diabetes folder! I will be honest, it does worry me despite all the things I read about my ratio's being good. I don't eat high fat other than a small amount of cheese, I will stop that for the next 3 months just to see if there's a difference. If I was at 9 or 10 maybe I would take them but not at 6.6!

I certainly wouldn't be worried about some cheese.. dietary cholesterol has very little influence on blood cholesterol anyway... our body just makes more if it thinks its needed. ..
I'll drop you a link to my thread on the subject.. you may want to get a tea or coffee before you start!

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/cholesterol-and-statins.156985/

 

[KK123]

I certainly wouldn't be worried about some cheese.. dietary cholesterol has very little influence on blood cholesterol anyway... our body just makes more if it thinks its needed. ..
I'll drop you a link to my thread on the subject.. you may want to get a tea or coffee before you start!

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/cholesterol-and-statins.156985/

The kettle's on! Thanks, bulkbiker.

 

[Guzzler]

No I blo*dy well ain't, I have consigned the prescription he gave me to my diabetes folder! I will be honest, it does worry me despite all the things I read about my ratio's being good. I don't eat high fat other than a small amount of cheese, I will stop that for the next 3 months just to see if there's a difference. If I was at 9 or 10 maybe I would take them but not at 6.6!

So the consultant said dietary changes would make little or no difference (he/she was right) but you are cutting down on sat fat by lowering the the amount of cheese in your diet?

 

[KK123]

So the consultant said dietary changes would make little or no difference (he/she was right) but you are cutting down on sat fat by lowering the the amount of cheese in your diet?

I know! It's not logical but I was just wondering anyway and after the appointment I read up again on cholesterol and kept reading about saturated fats. I am going to read all the links bulkbiker has provided and knowing me, I will be on the cheese again in a week.

 

[bulkbiker]

I know! It's not logical but I was just wondering anyway and after the appointment I read up again on cholesterol and kept reading about saturated fats. I am going to read all the links bulkbiker has provided and knowing me, I will be on the cheese again in a week.

Cheese for tea tonight I reckon!

 

[Guzzler]

I know! It's not logical but I was just wondering anyway and after the appointment I read up again on cholesterol and kept reading about saturated fats. I am going to read all the links bulkbiker has provided and knowing me, I will be on the cheese again in a week.

Just two little things. 25% of the weight of your brain is made up of cholesterol and 30% of the wall of every cell in your body is made of cholesterol, it is vital for cell structure.

"Why do eggs contain so much cholesterol? Because it takes a lot of cholesterol to build a chicken!" Dr. Malcolm Kendrick.